Would it be asking too much to see the 2021 Race of Champions Modified schedule?  I know it's only January (!), but most race tracks and sanctioning organizations have already released their schedules.  Why hasn't the RoC schedule been released yet?

I checked the Race of Champions website rocmodifiedseries.com and the July 6 modified event at Holland Speedway is still shown.  Does anyone have reliable information that this event has been cancelled given the current situation with the track?  Thanks.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (Nov. 7, 2018) – Memphis International Raceway (MIR) and parent company IRG Sports + Entertainment, announce motorsports industry veteran Tim Packman as the sports venues’ new president.

 
Packman brings nearly 20 years of facility management, event marketing and communications experience to the raceway.

 “I am humbled and honored to lead Memphis International Raceway into its next phases of growth,” Packman said. “This venue was one of my favorites when I worked in NASCAR and traveled the circuit.

“My first goals are getting to know my colleagues, our track partners and racers; then becoming involved with the Memphis and Shelby County community.

“MIR has a strong IHRA Drag Racing program and we look forward to making it even better. Another goal of ours is to increase the utilization of the oval track and road course circuit.”

He will lead the day-to-day operations of the 342-acre, multi-use facility located in the Mid-South, which includes a combined quarter and eighth-mile dragstrip, 1.8-mile road course and three-quarter mile, high-banked paved oval.

Packman comes from an award-winning motorsports background, most recently serving as President of Lancaster (NY) National Speedway & Dragway. During his tenure, the IHRA sanctioned eighth-mile dragstrip and half-mile oval had increased attendance, car counts, added successful events and made multiple improvements to the facility.

The U.S. Navy veteran, who attended Buffalo State College (SUNY) for communications, was named the 2016 and 2017 Short Track Promoter of the Year.

Prior to his time at Lancaster, Packman was a writer, author, radio reporter and communications executive in NASCAR. His last position in the sport was director, corporate communications at Richard Childress Racing.

In addition to MIR, IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE) owns the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), Bertil Roos Racing School, Cordova (Ill.) International Raceway, Maryland International Raceway and Palm Beach (Fla.) International Raceway.

“Tim brings valuable sports management experience and enthusiasm to our company. He will be a great leader of our Memphis team,” said Lou Partenza, IRGSE President and CEO.

“He joins our passionate leadership team that is committed to the continued growth and development of Memphis International Raceway.”

Race NYers,

I'm headed to Lake Erie Speedway this weekend (weather permitting) for the Race of Champions event on Saturday.  I'd love to make it a two track weekend by attending racing Friday night at a facility somewhere along the way.  I've searched but have been unable to locate a track reasonably close to I-86 in western New York or Pennsylvania. 

Did I miss something?  Is there a track (probably dirt) that's actually open and running on Friday nights?

Thanks.

Any information on the 2018 schedule other than the announced race at Jukasa Motor Speedway on July 14th?

Did it rain anytime today at the race track?  Some of us at Jennerstown on Saturday were pretty unhappy when Evergreen cancelled their Sunday events because of the weather forecast.  It would appear that it remained quite dry (so far) in the Drums, PA area. 

Looking out my window at the rain outside and thinking about what could happen given the current weather forecast. 

If the ROC event (Octoberfast) at Mahoning Valley is rained out this weekend, wouldn't it make sense for the local promoter to reschedule it for next Saturday, October 29th?  Unfortunately, that is the date for the already postponed Race of Champions 250 at Oswego Speedway.  So who or what is going to give in this potential situation?

One possibility is that Mahoning drops the ROC sanction and runs next Saturday in direct competition with the ROC 250 at Oswego.  Another possibility is that the ROC 250 is postponed (again) until next Spring sometime.  I'm sure there are other potential scenarios. 

Let's hope the rain ends soon enough for Mahoning to get their show completed this Saturday. 

In another RaceNY thread, I complained about a race car driver that intentionally brought out a yellow flag.  I thought he should have been immediately disqualified.  A supporter (or maybe the driver himself) attempted to rationalize his actions.  I responded that racing isn’t always fair and the issue quickly died.  Since then, I’ve given this situation some more thought.  The result is the following:

WHAT IF TAKING A TEST WAS LIKE RACING

Image you’re taking a written test.  It doesn’t really matter what kind of test: high school, college, SAT, or even an employment exam.  What does matter is that you’re sitting in a room with a bunch of other people taking the same test and you have a fixed amount of time to complete the test.  The objective, obviously, is to do better than everyone else in the room.

Let’s say, while taking the test, that your No. 2 pencil breaks for some reason.  Maybe there’s a flaw in how the pencil was manufactured.  Maybe you pressed (down) too hard causing the lead to break.  No matter.  There are a couple of solutions – bring out a new No. 2 pencil or sharpen the broken one.  In both cases, you resolve the issue and resume taking the test.

If taking a test were like racing, breaking a pencil (for whatever reason) would require you to replace the pencil, turn in your answer sheet, receive a new one, and restart the test from the beginning.  How fair is that?

Let’s say that the person (we’ll say gentleman) in the back row is having a difficult time with the test.  He finds the questions perplexing but does his best hoping that his score will be good enough.  He continues to struggle and eventually just gives up.  He spins around in his chair, jumps up, and heads to the exit.  You continue on hoping to achieve a top score.

If taking a test were like racing, you would almost certainly be penalized for the back row gent’s lack of test taking ability.  If you were doing very well on the test, you might even have to restart the test from the beginning under certain circumstances – most certainly if (eye) contact was made.  How fair is that?

Finally, while taking a test, the guy sitting next to you glances at you answer sheet and copies your answer.  The proctor immediately notices the incident and tells your neighbor to turn in his exam sheet and exit the room for improper actions.  Although your progress was momentarily interrupted, you resume answering the test questions.

If taking a test were like racing, you might be penalized by having to restart the test from the beginning.  Not that you did anything wrong but you were involved in the incident!  The guy did copy your answer.  How fair is that?

Have I made my point?  How well you do on a test is entirely up to you.  It has nothing to do with the others in the room.  Racing, on the other hand, is very different.  How well you do is very often dependent on factors beyond your control such as debris that causes your tire to go flat, the lapped car that spins in front of you, or the guy running next to you that gets loose and runs into you.

Racing isn’t fair.  Never has been and never will be.  Maybe that’s why I like it so much.  Nonetheless, if you intentionally bring out the caution, you should be immediately disqualified or, at a minimum, scored a lap down.